Revit Project Browser - Cant Expand Views or Sheets

Every once in a while, I will be working along and notice that the + and - signs in the project browser are missing. They just disappear. I have to close Revit and re-open it to get them to return.

To work around this when I just don't have time to restart Revit, I use a Windows accelerator key combination. Select a view with collapsed dependant views under it. Hold down the Alt key and press the * (asterisk) on your num pad. This will expand every view below it. Alternatively you can hold down the Alt key and press the - (minus) key on the num pad collapse all the views under it. Only the * and - on the num pad work.

It's a Windows thing, so give it a shot in Windows Explorer on anywhere files are listed.

Activate Revit Sheet Views

Once you have created sheets, its nice to work in the frame of that sheet, but Revit is really set up to use views instead. A nice alternative is to open your sheet, right click on the view and pick Activate View.

Now you can design directly in that view within the context of the sheet. This can really help when flag notes are being used. To deactivate the view, simply right click on the view and select... you guessed it Deactivate View.

Revit MEP 2010

The DVDs  for AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite 2010 just landed on my desk. 

1. I was wondering if the name could be longer?
   
2. I Love new software smell.

Halftoned Revit Families

I keep making the same mistake, then I have to figure it out again, so maybe posting about it will help. The problem is, I make a new family and when I place it in a test project it is half toned. 

Turns out, I just skipped a rather important step. I used a generic family template and forgot to set the appropriate family category (see below). The default generic models category displays half toned based off the Revit MEP view discipline setting. A good check is just to set the view discipline to Coordination, if your color returns, check the families category.